Office of Development and External Relations

The Division of Student Affairs Office of Development and External Relations provides Division-wide leadership and support in the areas of fundraising and external relations. Through the establishment and cultivation of relationships with friends, parents, alumni, foundations and corporations, we work to create shared interests with an ultimate goal of philanthropic support for Division-wide and departmental priorities.

The Division of Student Affair's development staff stands ready to assist you in any way that will make it easier and more satisfying to contribute. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you make your contribution to the Division of Student Affairs.

Jim Rychner

Director of Development and External Relations

Jim Rychner has been with the University of Maryland for 25 years. Leading the Division of Student Affairs originally through marketing for Resident Life, Rychner established the Office of Development and External Relations to ensure that students and staff focused on developing engaging programs and resources for the campus receive proper community and corporate support to expand their efforts.

Whether Rychner is in or out of the office, you can always find him with his loyal companion Madison, a black Labrador retriever that is the biggest Terp fan on four legs.

Ed Kenny

Associate Director for Grants and Scholarships

Ed Kenny rejoined the University of Maryland in 2012, after spending four years as an undergraduate and an additional two years as a graduate assistant coordinator in Resident Life as a graduate student in Public Policy. Kenny joins the Division focusing on securing grants and scholarships for the departments within the Division.

Kenny is a diehard Terp fan! Not only are he and his wife Terps with lots of awards to show for it, he also recruited his two sisters to study at the University of Maryland from out of state!

Victor Hernandez

Major Gift Officer Parent and Family Philanthropy

Victor Hernandez joined the University of Maryland October 2017. He is from New Orleans and brings three years of experience in parent giving, where he ran a successful Parents Council program at Tulane University. Victor oversees the Parents Philanthropic Board and regularly meets with UMD parents to assist them with their giving to the university.

Victor’s favorite time of the year is Carnival. If you are ever in New Orleans that time of the year, you will find him riding on a float with his father in the Krewe of Endymion the Saturday night before Mardi Gras

Ari Kroop

Assistant to the Director

Ari Kroop has been with the University of Maryland since 2009. He started as an undergraduate student who worked part-time in the Office of Development and External Relations, and joined as a full-time staff in 2011. Ari helps support all the initiatives within the office and ensures that everything is running smoothly.

Terry Zacker

Associate Director, Adele H. Stamp Student Union Initiatives

Terry Zacker has been with the University of Maryland for 26 years. Zacker works to ensure that corporations, foundations, organizations and alumni are engaged with programs through the Stamp Student Union, and find ways for alumni to give back by establishing scholarship funds or providing support for programs and activities that were meaningful to them. Zacker also teaches a class about leadership in athletics.

You will not be surprised to learn that whether it is on campus or in her community, past students constantly stop her to catch up and stay connected. When she gets the chance, you can also find Zacker helping her parents on the farm in Maine where she grew up.

Claire Sullivan

Claire Sullivan joined the University of Maryland Development Team in 2014. Sullivan works alongside Terry Zacker to help secure corporate sponsorships, scholarships, grants and individual support for the various programs and initiatives within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. Sullivan’s work ensures that students have the support they need for critical programs, such as Veteran Student Life, Student Entertainment Events, Graduate Student Life.

When not on campus, you can find Sullivan exploring campus and spending time with her two dogs.

(VACANT)

Associate Director for University Recreation & Wellness and Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life

This position is currently vacant.

Casey Bell

Associate Director of Development

Casey Bell joined the University of Maryland Division of Student Affairs Development Team in the fall of 2018. Casey focuses on corporate sponsorships, parent and family philanthropy and engagement and individual support for Division of Student Affairs priorities. Prior to joining the Student Affairs team, Casey spent over two years with the College of Education at UMD raising philanthropic support through major and planned gifts for various programs and initiatives within the College.

Casey is a proud Terp and began her career in development as a caller at the Tell-a-Terp call center as an undergraduate student! When she isn't busy cheering on the Terps, you can find her running, reading and spending time outdoors with her husband.

Through the establishment and cultivation of relationships with friends, parents, alumni, foundations and corporations, we work to create shared interests with an ultimate goal of philanthropic support for Division-wide and departmental priorities.